Clamp for battery terminals



g- 3, 1957 A. v. JOHNSON 3,335,408

CLAMP FOR BATTERY TERMINALS Filed Aug. 13, 1965 INVENTOR. ALBERT V JOHNSON A T TOFPNEYS United States Patent 3,335,400 CLAMP FOR BATTERY TERMINALS Albert V. Johnson, Witten, S. Dak., assignor to J & J Sales, Inc., Gregory, S. Dak., a corporation of South Dakota Filed Aug. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 479,582 2 Claims. (Cl. 339-226) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A battery clamp having a bifurcated end and adapted to receive a battery terminal therebetween. A hole is formed through each of the branches adjacent the end thereof, and the holes are substantially coaxial. A hollow cylindrical insert having internal threads and reversely directed external threads thereon, is positioned in one of said holes. The insert has an enlarged end for receiving a wrench or the like thereon, and a nut is threadedly engaged on the other end to substantially prevent axial movement while allowing free rotary movement. A bolt is inserted through the hole in the opposite branch of the bifurcated member and a nut is threadedly engaged thereon. The bolt is threadedly engaged in the insert member and the nut is tightened against the branch of the bifurcated member to substantially prevent rotation of the bolt. Rotation of the insert by means of a wrench or the like draws the branches of the bifurcated member together or apart to provide tightening and loosening around a battery terminal.

This invention pertains to a new and improved clamp for battery terminals and more specifically to a clamp for battery terminals which opens and closes as the device is loosened or tightened by means of a single tool.

In prior art battery clamps designed to open when loosened it is generally the practice to have a bifurcated member with a pair of branches adapted to receive the battery terminal therebetween. The branches each have a hole in them and a bolt passes through the holes with a tool fixedly attached to one end thereof or means attached to the end for applying a tool thereto. The bolt is threaded so that one-half is the reverse thread of the other half and it is engaged in the holes in the branches of the bifurcated member in a manner to cause the branches to be pulled together when the bolt is turned in one direction and spread apart when the bolt is turned in the other direction.

This prior art device is extremely unsatisfactory because the double threads on the bolt make the bolt very expensive to manufacture. Also, if a tool is fixedly attached to one end of the bolt the threads on the bolt must have a very large pitch since interference with the upper surface of the'battery will restrict movement of the tool to 180 of rotation. In addition many of these prior art devices have internal threads in the hole through one of the branches and the bolt is threadedly engaged therewith. This is highly unsatisfactory since the threads have a tendency to corrode under the effect of the battery acid and, therefore, greatly reduce the life of the device as well as the operability.

In the present invention a substantially standard bifurcated member having a hole through each of the branches is utilized. A bolt is inserted through the holes and attached to one branch of the bifurcated member by a locking means to substantially prevent any relative movement therebetween. The bolt is threadedly engaged in an insert which is rotatably attached to the other branch of the bifurcated member so. that rotation of the insert in one direction causes the branches of the bifurcated member to spread apart while rotation of the insert in the other direction causes the branches of the bifurcated member to move together. One end of the insert is adapted to have a tool such as a wrench or the like operatively engaged therewith.

Thus, since the present invention utilizes a single thread on the bolt it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Also, in the present invention the threaded parts can be constructed of a hard material such as steel or the like which will resist corrosion, thereby, greatly increasing the life of the device. In addition to the above advantages the present device is simple to operate and has some self-locking features which will be explained more fully in connection with the figures.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved battery clamp.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a battery clamp which is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a battery clamp with an increased useful life.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a battery clamp which is simple to operate and has positive action for loosening and tightening on battery terminals.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification, claims, and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the figures:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view, slightly reduced in size, of a top plan of the present invention attached to a battery terminal;

FIG. 3 is a view, slightly reduced in size, in side elevation of the present invention attached to the terminal of a battery; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view as seen from the line 4-4 in FIG. 3 on an enlarged scale.

In the figures the numeral 10 generally designates a bifurcated member having a hollow cylindrical shank 11 with an axial hole 12 therein adapted to receive one end of a battery cable 13, illustrated in FIGS. 2-4. The end of the shank 11 extends outwardly in two bifurcations or branches 14 and 15. A hole 16 is centrally located between the branches 14 and 15 and extends in a perpendicular direction thereto. The hole 16 is adapted to receive therein a terminal 17 of a battery 18. The member 10 is composed of material which is relatively soft so that the branches 14 and 15 can be bent slightly without damage thereto.

The branch 14 has a hole 20 extending therethrough which is substantially perpendicular to the branch 14 and the hole 16. The branch 15 has a hole 21 extending therethrough which is substantially perpendicular to the branch 15 and coaxial with the hole 20. The hole 21 has a slightly larger diameter than the hole 20 for reasons which will become apparent presently.

A hollow substantially cylindrical insert 25 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the hole 21. One end of the insert 25 has means fixedly attached thereto which are adapted to receive a tightening and loosening tool such as a wrench or the like in engagement therewith. In this embodiment this means consists of a head 26 similar to a hexagonal bolt head which is an integral part of the insert 25. The remainder of the outer diameter of the insert 25 is threaded with a left-hand thread. A coaxial hole 27 extending axially through the insert 25 is threaded its entire length with a right-hand thread. A right-hand thread is used internally in the insert 25 while a left-hand thread is used externally for purposes of simplification, however, it should be understood that a left-hand thread could be used internally and a right-hand thread externally.

A lock nut 30 has threads therein which match the external threads on the insert 25. The insert 25 is placed in the hole 21 in the branch so that the head 26 extends outwardly from the member 10. The lock nut 30 is then threaded onto the other end of the insert 25 on the side of the branch 15 adjacent the branch 14. The lock nut 30 is tightened on the insert 25 sufficiently to substantially prevent axial movement of the insert 25 while allowing rotational movement thereof about its longitudinal axis.

A bolt 35 has threads thereon which match the internal threads of the insert 25. The bolt 35 is of a sufiicient length to extend through the holes and 21 and out the far side a short distance. A lock nut 36 has threads which match the bolt 35. The bolt 35 is placed in the hole 20 and the lock nut 36 is threaded thereon. The bolt 35 is then moved until it threadedly engages the insert 25. The bolt 35 is threaded into the insert 25 until the head of the bolt is snug against the outer surface of the branch 14. The lock nut 36 is then tightened on the bolt 35 until it is snug against the inner surface of the branch 14. In this fashion the bolt 35 is maintained substantially immovable with respect to the branch 14.

In operation a wrench or the like is engaged with the head 26 of the insert 25 and the head 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. This rotation causes the insert 25 to travel along the bolt 35 away from the head thereof or in a loosening direction. The lock. nut 30 on the insert 25 carries the branch 15 with the insert 25 as it moves along the bolt 35. The lock nut 36 on the bolt maintains the branch 14 in contact with the head of the bolt 35. Thus, the branches 14 and 15 are spread apart as the head 26 of the insert 25 is rotated counterclockwise.

When the branches 14 and 15 are spread a sufiicient distance the terminal 17 of the battery 18 is inserted in the hole 16 and the head 26 of the insert 25 is rotated in a clockwise direction. Rotation of the head 26 in a clockwise direction causes the insert 25 to travel along the shank of the bolt 35 toward the head of the bolt 75. Since the head of the bolt 35 and the head 26 of the insert 25 each bear against the outer surfaces of the branches 14 and 15 respectively the branches 14 and 15 are pressed together and the cable 13 is snugly attached to the terminal 17.

It should be noted that the lock nut 30 on the insert 25 could be replaced with any locking device that would maintain the insert 25 axially immovable with respect to the branch 15 while allowing rotation thereof about its longitudinal axis. Also, the lock nut 36 on the bolt 35 could be replaced with any locking device which would maintain the bolt 35 immovable with respect to the branch 14. These locking devices might take the form of washers welded in place, washers and cotter pins, etc.

Thus, we have disclosed a clamp for attaching a cable to a battery terminal which is relatively inexpensive and simple to operate. Also, because of the relationship of the moving parts the device can be constructed for extremely long life without greatly increasing; the cost. In addition, the device is positive acting and connects the battery cable 13 to the battery terminal 17 positively when the device is closed while positively opening the branches 14 and 15 of the member 10 when it is desired to disconnect the cable 13.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of this invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular form shown and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A battery clamp comprising:

(a) a bifurcated member having first and second branches adapted to receive a battery terminal therebetween, each of said branches having a hole therethrough and said holes being substantially coaxial;

(b) hollow cylindrical insert means positioned coaxially within said hole in said first branch and having internal and external threads, said external threads being the reverse of said internal threads;

(0) said insert means extending outwardly from either side of said hole in said first branch, the portion of said insert means extending outwardly toward said second branch having a lock nut threadedly engaged thereon and the portion extending outwardly away from said member having means fixedly attached thereto adapted to receive a tightening and loosening tool in engagement therewith;

(d) a bolt having threads thereon matching said internal threads of said insert means extending through said hole in said second branch and threadedly engaged with said internal threads in said insert means; and

(e) a lock nut threadedly engaged on said bolt in juxtaposition to said second branch.

2. A battery clamp comprising:

(a) a bifurcated member having first and second branches adapted to receive a battery terminal therebetween, each of said branches having a hole therethrough and said holes being substantially coaxial;

(b) hollow cylindrical insert means positioned coaxially Within said hole in said first branch and having internal and external threads, said external threads being the reverse of said internal threads;

(0) said insert means extending outwardly from either side of said hole in said first branch, the portion of I said insert means extending outwardly toward said second branch having a lock nut threadedly engaged thereon and the portion extending outwardly away from said member having means fixedly attached thereto adapted to receive a tightening and loosening tool in engagement therewith;

(d) a bolt having threads thereon matching said internal threads of said insert means extending through said hole in said second branch and threadedly engaged with said internal threads in said insert means; and

(e) means for maintaining said bolt substantially immovable with respect to said second branch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,032,834 3/1936 Bunker 339-230 2,818,552 12/ 1957 Zarn 339-230 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

W. DONALD MILLER, Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BATTERY CLAMP COMPRISING: (A) A BIFURACATED MEMBER HAVING FIRST AND SECOND BRANCHES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A BATTERY TEMINAL THEREBETWEEN, EACH OF SAID BRANCHES HAVING A HOLE THERETHROUGH AND SAID HOLES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COAXIAL; (B) HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL INSERT MEANS POSITIONED COAXIALLY WITHIN SAID HOLE IN SAID FIRST BRANCH AND HAVING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL THREADS, SAID EXTERNAL THREADS BEING THE REVERSE OF SAID INTERNAL THREADS; (C) SAID INSERT MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM EITHER SIDE IF SAID HOLE IN SAID FIRST BRANCH, THE PORTION OF SAID INSERT MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY TOWARD SAID SECOND BRANCH HAVING A LOCK NUT THREADEDLY ENGAGED THEREON AND THE PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AWAY FROM SAID MEMBER HAVING MEANS FIXEDLY ATTACHED THERETO ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A TIGHTENING AND LOOSENING TOOL IN ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH; (D) A BOLT HAVING THREADS THEREON MATCHING SAID INTERNAL THREADS OF SAID INSERT MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID HOLE IN SAID SECOND BRANCH AND THREADEDLY ENGAGEG WITH SAID INTERNAL THREADS IN SAID INSERT MEANS; AND (E) A LOCK NUT THREADEDLY ENGAGED ON SAID BOLT IN JUXTAPOSITION TO SAID SECOND BRANCH. 